Hail-resistant vehicle cover

ABSTRACT

A hail-resistant cover for a vehicle is provided which may include a plurality of cover panels, each cover panel including a cover panel sleeve and an impact resistant cover panel insert. The cover panels may be affixed to each other by flexible cover panel joints which allow the cover panels to fold over onto the adjacent cover panels. The cover may also include anchors for anchoring the cover to the top of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the cover panels are removably affixed to the adjacent cover panels.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/299,222, filed Oct. 20, 2016 and entitled HAIL-RESISTANTVEHICLE COVER, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,994,097 issued Jun. 12, 2018 (Atty.Dkt. No. FRND-33210), the specification of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following disclosure relates to protective covers for cars and othervehicles.

BACKGROUND

Every year, hail storms cause large amounts of damage throughout theUnited States. A significant portion of this damage comes in the form ofhail damage to cars and trucks. The damage to a single vehicle canrequire thousands of dollars of repair work. Since many drivers do notpark their cars in garages or under other coverings, their vehiclesspend a significant amount of time exposed to potential hail storms.

SUMMARY

A hail-resistant vehicle cover is provided that is used to protect carsand trucks from hail damage. The vehicle cover includes straps withfixing members such as hooks which secure the cover to the vehicle at apoint such as the underside of the vehicle's body, or any other locationwhich can securely anchor a hook. In some embodiments, the vehicle coverincludes multiple cover panels which can fold together against eachother such that vehicle cover takes up much less space when being storedthat it would if it could not fold up. In some of these embodiments, thecover panels are separable from each other. Some embodiments of thevehicle cover include cover panels which are comprised of cover panelsleeves into which impact-resistant cover panel inserts are inserted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingDrawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a hail-resistant vehicle cover on top of a vehicle;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a hail-resistant vehicle cover;

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate side views of a hail resistant vehicle cover indifferent states of folding and unfolding;

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate perspective views of different embodiments ofjoints used to connect vehicle cover panels;

FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate perspective views of vehicle cover panels and howthey connect to each other;

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate perspective views of vehicle cover panel sleevesand vehicle cover panel inserts;

FIG. 6D illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle cover panel;

FIG. 6E illustrates a cross-section view of a vehicle cover panel;

FIG. 7A illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle cover panel withside curtains;

FIG. 7B illustrates a cross-section end view of a vehicle cover panelwith side curtains;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section end view of a portion of a vehiclecover panel with side curtains on a vehicle with hail stones impactingthe cover panel;

FIG. 9A illustrates a vehicle cover secured to a vehicle;

FIG. 9B illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle cover secured to avehicle;

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate perspective views of vehicle cover panels whichinclude magnets;

FIG. 11A illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle cover disposed on avehicle;

FIG. 11B illustrates a partial cross-section side view of cover panelswhich include magnets and connecting joints;

FIG. 11C illustrates a partial cross-section side view of a vehiclecover which includes a protective scratch-preventative layer disposedunder a cover panel;

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle cover base;

FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle cover panel whichincludes hook-and-loop material;

FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle cover which includesa vehicle cover base and cover panels which include hook-and-loopmaterial;

FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle cover which includesa vehicle cover base and a vehicle cover outer wrapping;

FIG. 16 illustrates a hail-resistant vehicle cover, including a frontpanel, on top of a vehicle; and

FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of a hail-resistant vehiclecover, including a front panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are usedherein to designate like elements throughout, the various views andembodiments of a hail-resistant vehicle cover are illustrated anddescribed, and other possible embodiments are described. The figures arenot necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings havebeen exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposesonly. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possibleapplications and variations based on the following examples of possibleembodiments.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an embodiment of avehicle cover 102 covering a vehicle 104. In FIG. 1, vehicle 104 is acar, but vehicle 104 could also be a truck, a sport-utility vehicle, orany other land vehicle in common use. The vehicle cover 102 sits on topof vehicle 104 and covers most of the top surfaces 106, including theroof, the hood, and, if the vehicle has one, the trunk or truck bed. Thevehicle cover 102 also covers and protects the windshield 112 and therear window 114. The vehicle cover 102 is secured to the vehicle with aset of anchors. In this embodiment, the anchors include straps 108 andfixing members 110. One end of each strap 108 is attached to the vehiclecover 102, while the other end has a fixing member 110 (in thisembodiment, a hook) which hooks under the body of vehicle 104 in alocation such as the fender or anywhere else where fixing member such asa hook can be secured. Tension in the strap 108 keeps the fixing member110 secured under the body of the vehicle 104 and the vehicle cover 102secured to the vehicle. In some embodiments, such as the embodimentshown in FIG. 1, the vehicle cover includes curtains 116 on the sides ofthe cover 102 that drape over the top part of the sides of the vehicle104.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated another view of vehiclecover 102. In some embodiments, the vehicle cover 102 comprises multiplecover panels 202. These cover panels 202 are impact resistant and helpprotect the top of the vehicle 104. Each cover panel 202 is connected tothe cover panels in front of and behind it by means of a hinge-likejoint (described hereinbelow with respect to FIGS. 3A-4C) that allowsthe cover panels to fold onto each other. In some embodiments, the coverpanels 202 are separate units that can be easily connected to each otherto form a vehicle cover 102 of a custom length. The panels 202 and howthey are connected to each other are described in more detailhereinbelow with regard to FIGS. 3A-4C. As mentioned hereinabove, thevehicle cover 102 is secured to a vehicle 104 via straps 108 and fixingmembers 110. The vehicle cover 102 has enough straps 108 to securelyanchor the cover to the vehicle 104. In some embodiments, the vehiclecover 102 has at least four straps 108, one located near each corner ofthe vehicle 104. In some embodiments, the straps 108 include bungeecords or are made of a similarly elastic material. Using an elasticmaterial for the straps 108 allows them to stretch to the lengthrequired for the fixing members 110 to be positioned under the body ofthe vehicle 104 or to any other location of an appropriate anchoringpoint. When the fixing members 110 are secured to the vehicle 104, thestraps 108 will be stretched and in a state of tension, which will pullthe fixing members against their anchor points, further securing thevehicle cover 102 to the top of the vehicle 104. The end of each strap108 that is attached to a cover panel 202 can be attached by anyappropriate means. In some embodiments, the straps 108 are sewn to coverpanels 202. In other embodiments, an adhesive is used. In still otherembodiments, a hook-and-loop attachment is used, whereby the cover panel202 will have a patch or strip of hook material, and the end of thestrap 108 will have a loop material (naturally, this could be reversed,wherein the panel 202 has loop material and the strap 108 has hookmaterial). The end of each strap would typically be attached to thecover panel 202 near the side edge of the cover panel, but in someembodiments is attached at other points on the panel. In someembodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the coverpanels 202 include side curtains 116 that drape over the side of thevehicle 104. This provides added protection to the sides of the vehiclefrom hail. As described further hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 8, thecurtains 116 in some embodiments are thinner than the rest of the coverpanel.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-D, there are illustrated several depictions ofa vehicle cover 102 in various states of folding. Turning first to FIG.3A, there is illustrated a side view of a vehicle cover 102 in a fullyunfolded state. Visible in FIG. 3A are panel joints 302 which connectthe cover panels 202 to each other. Note that the panel joints 302alternate between the upper and lower sides of the vehicle cover 102.That is, progressing from front to back of the cover 102 (left to rightin FIGS. 3A-D), the joint 302 between the first and second panels 202 ison the upper side of the cover, the joint 302 between the second andthird panels is on the lower side of the cover, the joint 302 betweenthe third and fourth panels is on the upper side of the cover, and soon. Of course, the joints on the cover 102 could be configured in analternating fashion such that the joint 302 between the first and secondpanels 202 is on the lower side of the cover; the joint between thesecond and third panels is on the upper side of the cover; and so on.The purpose for having joints 302 on alternating sides of the vehiclecover 102 is to allow the cover panels 202 to fold in alternatingdirections, as is described hereinbelow with respect to FIGS. 3B-3D.

Turning to FIG. 3B, there is illustrated another side view of a vehiclecover 102. In FIG. 3B, some of the cover panels 202 are partially foldedover the panels next to them. Arrows 304 indicate the direction in whichpanels 202 can fold. For example, cover panels 202 a and 202 b can foldupwards about their common joint 302, which is on the upper side of thevehicle cover 102. Cover panels 202 d and 202 e, on the other hand, folddownwards around their common joint 302. The alternating, accordion-likemanner in which the cover panels 202 folded over onto each other allowsthe vehicle cover 102 to be folded into a very compact size.

Turning to FIG. 3C, there is illustrated another side view of a vehiclecover 102. In FIG. 3C, the vehicle cover 102 has the cover panels 202mostly folded over onto each other in an “accordion” configuration.

Turning to FIG. 3D, there is illustrated another side view of a vehiclecover 102, with the cover panels 202 completely folded over onto eachother, resulting in the vehicle cover being in an accordionconfiguration that is its most folded, most compact state.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4D, there are illustrated several differenttypes of joints 302 used in different embodiments to connect vehiclepanels 202 to each other. Although in many embodiments the cover panels202 are detachable from one another, in some embodiments, the joints 302between the cover panels are permanently affixed to the panels,consequently permanently attaching the cover panels to each other viathe joints.

Turning first to FIG. 4A, there is illustrated an embodiment wherein thecover panels 202 are permanently connected to each other via joint 302.The joint 302 may be made of plastic, fabric, or any other materialdurable enough to withstand hail and severe storms, while also beingflexible enough to function as a type of hinge that allows the coverpanels 202 to rotate about the joint. The joint 302 is attached to eachcover panel 202 via an adhesive, is sewn onto each of the cover panels,or is attached to the cover panels via any other means that is strongand durable enough to hold together cover panels during a thunderstormor other severe weather event.

Turning next to FIG. 4B, there is illustrated an embodiment wherein thejoint 302 is comprised of a cover panel strip 402 of hook-and-loopmaterial on the surface of each cover panel 202 and a joint strip 404 ofmaterial which also has hook-and-loop material on one surface. A jointstrip 404 is placed such that its hook-and-loop material makes contactwith the hook-and-loop material on the cover panel strip 402 of bothcover panels 202 that it connects. This affixes the two cover panels 202to each other in such a way that the joint strip 404 can be removed fromthe cover panels 202, and the cover panels can be separated for storageor at other times when they no longer need to be attached to each other.In these embodiments, the cover panel strips 402 will all be of eitherhook or loop material, and the joint strips 404 will then be thecomplimentary hook or loop material.

Turning next to FIG. 4C, there is illustrated an embodiment in which thecover panels 202 are detachable from each other and from the joint 302.In this embodiment, multiple joints 302 hold each cover panel 202 to itsneighbor. Each of these joints 302 is constructed of fabric, plastic, orany other strong, flexible, waterproof material and includes two snapfastener halves 406, each of which corresponds to a snap fastener half408 on the cover panels 202 which the joint 302 connects. For each joint302, one of the snap fastener halves 406 is snapped to a snap half 408on one cover panel 202, and the other fastener half 406 is snapped to asnap half 408 on the other cover panel 202, linking the two cover panels202 together in a way that allows them to be detached from each otherwhen needed. Naturally, the snap halves 406, 408 hold together withenough strength to keep from separating during a weather event thatwould produce hail. In some embodiments, only one joint 302 holdstogether each cover panel 202, while in other embodiments, such as isillustrated in FIG. 4C, the joint 302 attaching the cover panels to eachother actually comprises multiple joints 302.

In all embodiments, the joint 302 may be made of plastic, fabric, or anyother scratch-preventative material durable enough to withstand hail andsevere storms, while also being flexible enough to function as a type ofhinge that allows the cover panels 202 to rotate about the joint.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5D, is illustrated another embodiment in whichthe joint 302 is part of the cover panel 202. Turning to FIG. 5A, thereis illustrated a single cover panel 202 with a joint 302. The coverpanel 202 is oriented such that the joint 302 is on the upper surface ofthe cover panel. In this embodiment, joint 302 is a flap 502 of materialattached to the top surface of cover panel 202 and extends over the edgeof the cover panel. On the underside of the flap 502 is hook-and-loopmaterial.

Turning next to FIG. 5B, there is illustrated an identical cover panel202 as in FIG. 5A, except that the cover panel in FIG. 5B is orientedsuch that its joint 302 is on the underside of the cover panel. Alsovisible on the cover panel 202 in FIG. 5B is a strip 504 ofhook-and-loop material. This strip 504 is on the opposite surface as thejoint 302 (in the case of FIG. 5B, the upper surface). An identicalstrip 504 is also on the cover panel 202 illustrated in FIG. 5A, but itis on the lower surface, which is not visible in view of FIG. 5A.

Turning next to FIG. 5C, there are illustrated two cover panels 202,identical to those in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The cover panels 202 are orientedsuch that the hook-and-loop material on the joint 302 of cover panel 202a overlaps and is affixed to the hook-and-loop strip 504 of cover panel202 b on the opposite end and opposite surface of cover panel 202 b thatincludes a joint 302. By alternating orientations in this way,additional cover panels 202 can be added to create a vehicle cover 102that is foldable, as described hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 3A-3D.

Turning to FIG. 5D, this concept is illustrated. For example, the joint302 of an additional cover panel 202 may be affixed to the underside ofcover panel 202 a, and the joint 302 of cover panel 202 b could beaffixed to the underside of yet another additional cover panel 202. Byrepeating this process, as many cover panels 202 as needed can beaffixed to each other to create a vehicle cover 102 of any desiredlength. Note that the exact type of joint 302 may vary. In someembodiments, it will be of the hook-and-loop types describedhereinabove, while in other embodiments, it may be of any of the othertypes described hereinabove.

In embodiments in which the cover panels 202 are detachably affixed toeach other, a vehicle cover 102 can be easily assembled and disassembledsimply by connecting and disconnecting cover panels to each other asnecessary. Another benefit of this “modular” approach to theconfiguration of a vehicle cover 102, is that a vehicle cover of acustom size can be assembled. Instead of having to produce vehiclecovers 102 of multiple different sizes to account for different vehiclesizes, manufacturers only need to produce and sell the cover panels 202and joints 302. A vehicle owner can then purchase enough cover panels202 to create a vehicle cover 102 long enough to cover the hood, roof,and trunk (or truck bed) of his/her particular vehicle 104.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A-6C, there are illustrated an embodiment of acover panel 202 which includes a shock-absorbing insert. Much of thecost of an item that a consumer pays is actually from the transportationof the item from overseas. Producing an item that is easily andefficiently transportable helps reduce the consumer price of an item.The embodiments shown in FIGS. 6A-6C address this issue.

Turning to FIG. 6A, there is illustrated a cover panel 202. In thisembodiment, the cover panel 202 includes a cover panel sleeve 602 andcover panel insert 604. Cover panel sleeve 602 is generally hollow andforms chamber 606 on its interior. Cover panel sleeve 602 also includesan opening 608 on one of its side (preferably a side other than theupper or lower surface). The opening 608 opens into the chamber 606.Cover panel insert 604 is sized such that it is approximately the sameshape and volume as the chamber 606 and can fit through the opening 608.In these embodiments, the cover panel insert 604 provides much of theimpact protection for the vehicle 104 against hail damage. The coverpanel insert 604 may be made of an impact resistant material such asopen or closed cell foam, rubber, gel, or any other impact resistantmaterial. In some embodiments, the cover panel insert is actually arubber or plastic bladder that can be filled with water or inflated withair.

The cover panel sleeve 602 can take different forms. In someembodiments, the sleeve 602 is a semi-rigid shell, providing some impactresistance itself, while still allowing some of the impact force to beabsorbed by the cover panel insert 604. In other embodiments, the coverpanel sleeve 602 is flexible, like a pocket or pillow case. In theseembodiments, the cover panel sleeve may be constructed of cloth, fabric,rubber, vinyl, a flexible plastic, or any other material that willdeform when impacted without being damaged, allowing the cover panelinsert 604 to absorb most of the impact force. In many embodiments, thecover panel sleeve 602 material will be a scratch-preventative material.The opening 608 on the side of the cover panel sleeve allows for thecover panel insert 604 to be inserted into the sleeve 602.

Turning to FIG. 6B, there is illustrated a cover panel 202 wherein thecover panel insert 604 is partially inserted into a cover panel sleeve602.

At least some of the cover panels 202 will also include straps 108 andfixing members 110. The straps 108 are affixed to the exterior of thecover panel sleeves 602. In some embodiments, the straps 108 arepermanently affixed to the cover panel sleeves 602, while in otherembodiments, each strap 108 has hook-and-loop material on the end thatattaches to the cover panel sleeve 602, and the cover panel sleeve hascomplimentary hook-and-loop material in the location where the strap isto be attached. In some embodiments, all of the cover panel sleeves 602include hook-and-loop material for attaching straps 108, allowing forstraps to be connected to any of the cover panels 202 that make up thevehicle cover 102. In other embodiments, only certain cover panelsleeves have the hook-and-loop material for attaching straps.

Turning to FIG. 6C, there is illustrated an embodiment of a cover panel202 with the opening 608 of the cover panel sleeve 602 partially closed.In some embodiments, the opening 608 cover panel sleeve 602 can beclosed. This prevents the cover panel insert 604 from coming out of thesleeve at an inconvenient time, such as in the middle of a storm. Inthese embodiments, the cover panel sleeve 602 includes a zipper or otherclosing means 610 that can allow the opening 608 to be easily opened andclosed. Thus, when the cover panel insert 604 is to be inserted orremoved from the cover panel sleeve 602, the closing means 610 can beused to open the opening 608. Then, when the cover panel insert 604 iseither inserted or removed, the closing means 610 can be used to closethe opening 608.

Turning now to FIG. 6D, there is illustrated a perspective view of anembodiment of a cover panel 202 with concave cavities 612 on theunderside of the cover panel. In these embodiments, the cover panel 202may not include a chamber 606 or an insert 604. Instead, the cover panel202 may be solid or of a unibody construction. In these embodiments,like that illustrated in FIG. 6D, the cover panel 202 includeshollowed-out cavities 612 on the underside of the cover panel. Thesecavities 612 can be advantageous, as they will save on the amount ofmaterial used in constructing the cover panels 202. Also, the cavities612 will still provide protection against hail, since impacts againstparts of the panel 202 under which there is a cavity will cause thecover panel material to flex into the gap between the vehicle 104 andthe top of the cavity 612. Thus, in these embodiments, thick padding isnot necessary over the entire area of the cover panel 202, since thegaps between the vehicle 104 and the cover panel material formed by thecavities 612 will provide adequate impact protection.

Turning to FIG. 6E, there is illustrated a cross-sectional view of thecover panel illustrated in FIG. 6D.

Turning to FIGS. 7A and 7B, there is illustrated an embodiment in whichthe cover panels 202 include side curtains 116. The embodiments shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B also include chambers 606 and panel inserts 604, butother embodiments having side curtains 116 may not include chambers orpanel inserts. Referring to FIG. 7A, there is illustrated a view of acover panel 202. In this embodiment, the cover panel sleeve 602 is madeof multiple sheets 702 of material that are connected together at theedges to form the sides of the cover panel sleeve 602 and the chamber606. In some embodiments, the one or more of the sheets 702 extendbeyond where the sheets come together and form the side curtains sidecurtains 116. For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-B, the sheets702 forming the panel sleeve 602 converge at the edges of the panelsleeve to the form the boundaries of chamber 606 and the sides of thecover panel sleeve. Instead of terminating at the point where theyconverge, the sheets 702 continue to extend past that point. The sheets702 may or may not be affixed to each other past the point where theyconverge. Either way, the sheets 702 form flaps which act as the sidecurtains 116 and provide some protection to the sides of the vehicle104. In embodiments where the sheets 702 are affixed together, they maybe attached to each other in any appropriate way to form the sidecurtains 116. For example, the sheets 702 may be sewn together, gluedtogether, secured to each other with buttons, or secured to each otherwith hook-and-loop material.

The sheets 702 may be made of a variety of scratch-preventativematerials. For example, in some embodiments, the sheets 702 are made ofrubber. In other embodiments, the sheets 702 are made of breathablepolyester. In still other embodiments, the sheets 702 are made of cloth.In yet other embodiments, the sheets 702 are made of plastic. In someembodiments, both the upper and lower sheets 702 are made of the samematerial, while in other embodiments, they are made of different typesof material.

Since the side curtains 116 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A do notinclude an impact resistant insert 604 like the one that is inside thechamber 606, they will not provide as much impact resistance as the partof the cover panel 202 that covers top surfaces of the vehicle 104.However, as discussed hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 8, this is not anissue, since hail stones will generally not impact the sides of vehicle104 with the same force as they would impact the top of a vehicle.

Naturally, other embodiments will have variations of the side curtain116 illustrated in FIGS. 7A-B. In some embodiments, only one cover panelsleeve sheet 702 will extend beyond where the sheets converge, meaningthat the side curtains 116 will each be only one sheet 702 of material.In some embodiments, the side curtains 116 will be separate pieces fromthe rest of the cover panel 202. In some embodiments, the side curtains116 will be removable. Other embodiments may in fact have additional ordifferent material between the sheets 702 of the side curtains 116 or aspart of the side curtains. The side curtains 116 are different lengthsin different embodiments. In some embodiments, the length of the sidecurtains is between 12% and 25% of the distance between one side of thecover panel 202 and the other side of the cover panel 202 (the left andright sides). In other embodiments, the length of the side curtains 116is between 80% and 100% of the distance from one side of the cover panel202 to the other side of the cover panel(the left and right sides). Insome embodiments the width of the side curtains 116 extends from therear of the cover panel 202 all the way to the front of the cover panel,while in other embodiments, the width of the side curtain is between 70%and 100% of the distance between the front and rear edges of the coverpanel.

Referring now to FIG. 7B, there is illustrated another view of theembodiment depicted in FIG. 7A.

Turning now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated cross section view of coverpanel 202, from an embodiment like that of FIG. 7A, placed on a topsurface 106 of a vehicle 104, with a side curtain 116 draped over thetop part of the side of the vehicle. FIG. 8 illustrates how the coverpanel 202 protects the vehicle surface 106 from damaging hail stones802. The portion of the cover panel 202 which provides the most impactresistance, that is, the portion that includes the cover panel sleeve606 and the cover panel insert 604, rests on the top surface 106 of thevehicle 104 (although the same principles apply to a cover panel 202resting on the hood, trunk, or any other upward facing surface of avehicle 104). It is important to have a high degree of impact resistanceon upward facing surfaces, such as top surface 106, because this iswhere hail stones 802 will cause the most damage to an unprotectedvehicle. Since hail stones 802 fall in a mostly vertical direction (evenif there is high wind, hail stones will have a small horizontalcomponent of velocity compared to their vertical component), a hailstone 802 will impact an upper facing surface of a vehicle 104 at anearly perpendicular angle, creating a high impact force. On the otherhand, a hail stone 802 that impacts the side of a vehicle 104 will do soat a very shallow angle with the side surface of the vehicle 104, sinceonly a small amount of the hail stone's velocity will be in a horizontaldirection, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the side surface ofthe vehicle 104. Because of this, the side surface of the vehicle 104encounters a relatively small impact force from a falling hailstone 802.Since the side surfaces of the vehicle 104 will typically encounter asmaller impact force from hail stones 802 than the top surface 106, thecurtain does not need to have a thick, impact resistant layer ofmaterial. Instead, the protection provided to the vehicle sides bythinner side curtains 116 (which, in this embodiment, are extensions ofthe cover sleeve sheets 702) is still sufficient for a typical hailstorm.

Staying with FIG. 8, also illustrated is the strap 108 and fixing member110 (in this embodiment, a hook). One end of the strap 108 is affixed tothe cover panel 202. In the embodiment shown, the strap 108 is affixedto the side curtain 116 portion of the cover panel 202. The strap 108may be affixed to the cover panel 202 in a number of ways. The strap 108can be sewn to the cover panel 202, hook-and-loop material can be used,adhesive can be used, or even snapping buttons can affix the strap tothe cover panel. The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 includes a hook as thefixing member 110. The fixing member 110 would be anchored onappropriate part of the vehicle 104, such as under the fender.

Turning now to FIG. 9A, there is illustrated a front view of a vehicle104 with a vehicle cover 102. In this embodiment, the vehicle cover 102is secured to the vehicle 104 with multiple straps 108 which wrap underthe vehicle. Each strap 108 has two ends. The first end is attached toone side of a cover panel 202. The strap 108 then is wrapped under thevehicle 104 to the other side of the vehicle. The second end of thestrap 108 is then attached to the other side of the same cover panel202, thus anchoring the cover panel, and the rest of the vehicle cover102, to the vehicle 104. This method of anchoring the vehicle cover 102to the vehicle 104 is also very secure, as there are not fixing members110 that might come loose from their anchor points. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 9A, the ends of the strap 108 are affixed to the sidecurtains 116. Different embodiments will have the strap 108 affixed todifferent parts of the cover panel 202. For example, the strap 108 may,as shown in FIG. 9A, be attached to the side curtains 116.Alternatively, the strap 108 may be attached to the top of the coverpanel sleeve 602, or it may be attached to the bottom surface of thecover panel sleeve.

Turning to FIG. 9B, there is illustrated another view of the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 9A. In FIG. 9B, multiple straps 108 are visible. Havingmultiple straps 108 will better secure the vehicle cover 102 and keep itfrom lifting off the vehicle 104 during high winds. Like otherembodiments, the straps 108 may be affixed to the vehicle cover by avariety of methods, to the cover panels 202 or to the side curtains 116,except that in embodiments in which the straps 108 wrap under thevehicle and attach to the other side of a cover panel 202, at least oneof the attachments between the vehicle cover 202 and the strap 108 mustbe removable, such as hook-and-loop or snapping buttons. Otherwise, itwould be very difficult to wrap the strap 108 under the vehicle 104.

Turning to FIGS. 10A and 10B, there are illustrated perspective views ofan embodiment which uses magnets to secure cover panels 202 to thevehicle 104. In some embodiments, instead of being secured to thevehicle 104 by a strap 108 and fixing member 110, the cover panels 202of the vehicle cover 102 are each secured to the vehicle by magnets. Inthese embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 10A, the cover panel 202includes one or more magnets 1002. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10A,the magnets 1002 are affixed the outside of the cover panel sleeve 602(the bottom of the cover panel 202, that is, the side that would abutthe vehicle 104, is visible). The magnets 1002 are attracted to themetal body of the vehicle 104 and have strong enough magnetism to firmlysecure the cover panel 202 to the vehicle 104 directly or through aprotective layer such as a felt or cotton liner. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 10A, the cover panel 202 includes four magnets 1002,with one magnet near each corner of the cover panel.

Turning now to FIG. 10B, there is illustrated a perspective view ofanother embodiment which uses magnets 1002 to secure the cover panels202 to the vehicle 104. This embodiment is similar to that depicted inFIG. 10A, except in the embodiment of FIG. 10B, the magnets 1002 areaffixed on the inside of the cover sleeve 602. This configurationprovides a slight separation (in the form of part of the cover sleep602) between the magnets 1002 and the body of the vehicle 104. Thisseparation can help prevent scratches on the body of the vehicle 104that might occur from the direct contact of the magnets 1002 with thebody of the vehicle 104.

Different embodiments will have different numbers, shapes, andconfigurations of magnets 1002 on the cover panels 202. The embodimentsshown in FIGS. 10A and 10B each have four magnets 1002, one near eachcorner of the underside of the cover panel 202. In some embodiments,each cover panel 202 will have long, strip-shaped magnets 1002 near oneor more edges of the underside of the cover panel. Some embodiments havenumerous magnets 1002 affixed to several locations on the underside (orinside the underside) of the cover panel 202. Still other embodimentswill have a single magnet 1002 on the cover panel 202 which is largeenough to securely hold the cover panel onto the vehicle body 104.

Turning now to FIG. 11A, there is illustrated a perspective view of avehicle cover 102 which includes cover panels 202 secured to a vehicle104 with magnets 1002. Each cover panel 202 is individually secured tothe vehicle 104 because of the magnets 1002 on the underside of eachcover panel. In some embodiments which use magnets 1002 to secure thecover panels 202 to the vehicle 104, the cover panels will still includejoints 302 which connect the cover panels to each other. In otherembodiments, each cover panel 202 is a completely separated from theother cover panels, with no cover panel joints 302. In theseembodiments, a plurality of the cover panels 202 depicted in FIGS. 10Aand 10B would be enough to form a complete vehicle cover 102. In otherembodiments, some of the cover panels 202 may be connected to each otherby joints 302. This would be useful in certain cover panels 202 protectareas of the vehicle 104 that may not include enough metal onto whichthe magnets 1002 to secure the cover, e.g., the windshield, moonroof, orrear window of the vehicle. Some of the embodiments which includemagnets 1002 will also include straps 108 and securing members 110 toprovide additional anchors to the vehicle 104. It should be noted thatwhile the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11 does not include side curtains116 on the cover panels 202, some embodiments that use magnets 1002 tosecure the cover panels to the vehicle 104 will still include sidecurtains.

Turning now to FIG. 11B, there is illustrated an embodiment in which thecover panels 202 include magnets 1002 and hook-and-loop material joints302. In these embodiments, the joints 302 may be included on all of thecover panels 202, or the joints 302 may only be on cover panels whichcover parts of the vehicle 104 to which magnets would not be attracted.For example, cover panels 202 covering the windshield or rear window ofa vehicle 104 may include the joints 302 as a way of securing them toother cover panels which are covering magnetically attractive parts ofthe vehicle. In one embodiment, the joint 302 includes a strip 1102 ofmaterial. One end of the strip 1102 is sewn or otherwise permanentlyattached to the front or rear edge of each cover panel 202. Each coverpanel 202 also includes a patch 1104 of hook-and-loop material on theother of the front or rear edge from the strip 1102. The other end ofthe strip 1102 includes hook-and-loop material which attaches to thepatch 1104 of hook-and-loop material on the other cover panel 202. Asexplained hereinabove, some embodiments will include these joints 302 oneach cover panel, while in other embodiments, only specific cover panels202 will include the strips 1102 and patches 1104.

Turning now to FIG. 11C, there is illustrated another embodiment inwhich the vehicle cover 102 includes magnets 1002 in the cover panels202, and also includes a protective layer 1106 of material under part orall of each of the cover panels 202. The protective layer 202 helpsprotect the paint of the vehicle 104 from being scratched by the magnets1002, or by a portion of the cover sleeve 602 if it is pressed againstthe vehicle by one or more of the magnets. This protective layer 1106may be a sheet that lies under the entirety of the surface areas of thelower surfaces of all of the cover panels 202. In other embodiments,however, the protective layer 1106 may be a patch that covers themagnets 1002, meaning that a vehicle cover 102 may in fact have numerousprotective layers 1106. The protective layer 1106 may be made of avariety of scratch-preventative materials, such as vinyl, cloth, cotton,foam, felt, rubber, or foam.

Using cover panels 202 which include magnets 1002 allows for a user toquickly and easily install the vehicle cover 102 on the vehicle 104,since the cover panels 202 can effectively affix themselves to the metalvehicle surfaces. In embodiments which only use the magnets 1002 toaffix the cover panels 202 to the vehicle 104, no additional straps 108or fixing members 110 need to be adjusted or configured, makinginstallation onto a vehicle and removal from the vehicle relativelysimple.

Turning now to FIG. 12, there is illustrated a perspective view of avehicle cover base for use in embodiments which include hook-and-loopmaterial to secure cover panels 202 to a vehicle cover base which isthen itself secured to the vehicle 104. Referring back to FIG. 12, thevehicle cover base 1202 is a sheet of scratch-preventative material thatis large enough to be laid over and cover the top surfaces of thevehicle 104. The vehicle cover base 1202 includes hook-and-loop material1204 on its top surface. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 12, thehook-and-loop material 1204 is in two strips near the left and rightsides of the vehicle cover base 1202 and run from near the front end tothe rear end of the vehicle cover base. The vehicle cover base 1202includes straps 108 and fixing members 110 which are used to secure thevehicle cover base to the vehicle 104 at appropriate anchoringlocations, such as the fender of the vehicle. In some embodiments, thevehicle cover base 1202 will include base side curtains 1206. Thus,instead of, or in addition to, the cover panel side curtains 116, thebase side curtains 1206 will give protection to the sides of the vehicle104. The vehicle cover base 1202 may be made of a number of variousmaterials, including scratch-preventative materials. In someembodiments, the vehicle cover base 1202 is comprised of plastic. Inother embodiments, the vehicle cover base 1202 may be comprised of othermaterials, such as rubber, cloth, vinyl, felt, cotton, or foam.

Turning now to FIG. 13, there is illustrated a perspective view of acover panel 202 (upside down—with the underside visible) which is usedin conjunction with the vehicle cover base of FIG. 12. In theseembodiments, strips of hook-and-loop material 1302 are affixed to theexterior of the underside of the cover panel 202 via adhesive, sewing,or any other permanent attachment. The cover panel 202 is positionedsuch that the hook-and-loop strips 1302 make contact with and affix tocomplementary strips of hook-and-loop material 1204 on the vehicle coverbase 1202, securing the cover panel to the vehicle cover base.

Turning to FIG. 14, there is illustrated an embodiment of the vehiclecover 102 which includes the cover panels 202 secured to a vehicle coverbase 1202 as described hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 12 and 13. Thevehicle cover base 1202 is placed on top of the vehicle 104 with theside with the hook-and-loop material 1204 facing upwards away from thesurface of the vehicle. Cover panels 202 are placed on top of thevehicle cover base 104 with the sides of the cover panels that includethe hook-and-loop material 1302 facing downward and affixing to thehook-and-loop material 1204 of the cover base 1202. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 14, each cover panel 202 is separate from the other coverpanels, and the cover panels are not connected to each other byconnecting joints 302; they are only connected to the cover base 1204via the hook-and-loop material. In some embodiments, the cover panels202 will still include connecting joints 302 which connect some or allof the cover panels to each other.

Turning to FIG. 15, there is illustrated another embodiment which useshook-and-loop material to affix cover panels 202 to a vehicle cover base1202, much like the embodiment depicted in FIG. 14. In this embodiment,however, the vehicle cover 102 also includes an outer wrapping 1502. Theouter wrapping 1502 is meant to be placed over the vehicle cover base1204 and the cover panels 202 to provide another layer of protection andto further secure the entire vehicle cover 102. Once the cover base 1202and the cover panels 202 are placed on the vehicle 104 and secured tothe vehicle with the straps 108 and fixing members 110, the outerwrapping 1502 is placed over the vehicle 104 and the cover base andcover panels. The outer wrapping 1502 may cover all of the cover panels202, or, in some embodiments, parts of the some of the cover panels maynot be covered by the outer wrapping. The outer wrapping 1502 includesits own out wrapping straps 1504 and outer wrapping fixing members 1506,which are used to secure the outer wrapping to the vehicle 104. In someembodiments, the outer wrapping 1502 covers the top surfaces of thevehicle 104, but does not extend very far, it at all, over the side ofthe vehicle. In other embodiments, the outer wrapping 1502 extends downthe sides of the vehicle 104 and provides added protection to the sidesof the vehicle. In some of these embodiments, the cover panels 202 maynot include side curtains 116 if the portions of the outer wrapping thatextend over the sides of the vehicle 104 are thick enough to provideadequate protection. The outer wrapping 1502 may be made of a number ofvarious scratch-preventative materials. In some embodiments, the outerwrapping 1502 is comprised of plastic. In other embodiments, the outerwrapping 1502 may be comprised of other materials, such as rubber,cloth, vinyl, or foam.

It should be noted that the outer wrapping 1502 may also be included inalternate embodiments of the vehicle cover 102 with magnets 1002 in thecover panels 202 depicted in FIG. 11, or alternate versions of otherembodiments, such as those depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, and 9A-B.

Turning to FIG. 16, there is illustrated an embodiment of a vehiclecover 102, including a front panel 1602, covering a vehicle 104. In FIG.16, vehicle 104 is a car, but vehicle 104 could also be a truck, asport-utility vehicle, or any other land vehicle in common use. Thevehicle cover 102 sits on top of vehicle 104 and covers most of the topsurfaces 106, including the roof, the hood, and, if the vehicle has one,the trunk or truck bed. The vehicle cover 102 also covers and protectsthe windshield 112 and the rear window 114. The vehicle cover 102additionally includes the front panel 1602. The front panel 1602 coversand protects the front of the vehicle, including the headlights and thegrille and/or grille emblems. The vehicle cover 102 is secured to thevehicle with a set of anchors. In this embodiment, the anchors includestraps 108 and fixing members 110. One end of each strap 108 is attachedto the vehicle cover 102, while the other end has a fixing member 110(in this embodiment, a hook) which hooks under the body of vehicle 104in a location such as the fender or anywhere else where fixing membersuch as a hook can be secured. Tension in the strap 108 keeps the fixingmember 110 secured under the body of the vehicle 104 and the vehiclecover 102 secured to the vehicle. In some embodiments, such as theembodiment shown in FIG. 16, the vehicle cover includes curtains 116 onthe sides of the cover 102 that drape over the top part of the sides ofthe vehicle 104.

Referring now to FIG. 17, there is illustrated another view of vehiclecover 102, including the front panel 1602. In some embodiments, thevehicle cover 102 comprises multiple cover panels 202. These coverpanels 202 are impact resistant and help protect the top of the vehicle104. The front panel 1602 further protects the front of the vehicle,including the headlights and the grille and/or grille emblems. Eachcover panel 202 is connected to the cover panels in front of and behindit by means of a hinge-like joint (described hereinabove with respect toFIGS. 3A-4C) that allows the cover panels to fold onto each other. Thefront panel 1602 also can fold in this way. In some embodiments, thecover panels 202 are separate units that can be easily connected to eachother to form a vehicle cover 102 of a custom length. The panels 202 andhow they are connected to each other are described in more detailhereinabove with regard to FIGS. 3A-4C. As mentioned hereinabove, thevehicle cover 102 is secured to a vehicle 104 via straps 108 and fixingmembers 110. The vehicle cover 102 has enough straps 108 to securelyanchor the cover to the vehicle 104. In some embodiments, the vehiclecover 102 has at least four straps 108, one located near each corner ofthe vehicle 104. In some embodiments, the straps 108 include bungeecords or are made of a similarly elastic material. Using an elasticmaterial for the straps 108 allows them to stretch to the lengthrequired for the fixing members 110 to be positioned under the body ofthe vehicle 104 or to any other location of an appropriate anchoringpoint. When the fixing members 110 are secured to the vehicle 104, thestraps 108 will be stretched and in a state of tension, which will pullthe fixing members against their anchor points, further securing thevehicle cover 102 to the top of the vehicle 104. The end of each strap108 that is attached to a cover panel 202 can be attached by anyappropriate means. In some embodiments, the straps 108 are sewn to coverpanels 202. In other embodiments, an adhesive is used. In still otherembodiments, a hook-and-loop attachment is used, whereby the cover panel202 will have a patch or strip of hook material, and the end of thestrap 108 will have a loop material (naturally, this could be reversed,wherein the panel 202 has loop material and the strap 108 has hookmaterial). The end of each strap would typically be attached to thecover panel 202 near the side edge of the cover panel, but in someembodiments is attached at other points on the panel. In someembodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17, the coverpanels 202 include side curtains 116 that drape over the side of thevehicle 104. This provides added protection to the sides of the vehiclefrom hail. As described further hereinabove with respect to FIG. 8, thecurtains 116 in some embodiments are thinner than the rest of the coverpanel.

It should be understood that the drawings and detailed descriptionherein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictivemanner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms andexamples disclosed. On the contrary, included are any furthermodifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives,design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe art, without departing from the spirit and scope hereof, as definedby the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claimsbe interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes,rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, andembodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hail resistant vehicle cover for a vehiclehaving a surface, the vehicle cover comprising: a plurality ofinterconnected panels, each panel including: an upper surface formed ofa first material, a lower surface formed of a second material that doesnot scratch the surface of the vehicle and adapted to lay against thesurface of the vehicle, a cavity formed between the upper surface andthe lower surface, an impact resistant material disposed in the cavity,a front edge, a rear edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, aflexible and detachable joint disposed at the rear edge for joining anassociated one of the plurality of panels on the rear edge thereof tothe front edge of an adjacent one of the plurality of panels, and rightand left side curtains connected to and extending from the respectiveright and left side edges and fabricated from the second material andadapted to extend downward along the sides of the vehicle; wherein atleast two of the panels each have a securing device interfaced theretofor securing the associated panels to the vehicle; and wherein, when theplurality of panels are joined at respective front and rear edges, theycan be folded in an accordion configuration.
 2. The hail resistantvehicle cover of claim 1, wherein the first material is the same as thesecond material.
 3. The hail resistant vehicle cover of claim 1, whereinthe impact resistant material disposed in the cavity includes closedcell foam.
 4. The hail resistant vehicle cover of claim 1, wherein theimpact resistant material disposed in the cavity includes open cellfoam.
 5. The hail resistant vehicle cover of claim 1, wherein the impactresistant material disposed in the cavity includes an inflatablebladder.
 6. The hail resistant vehicle cover of claim 1, wherein thefirst material includes breathable polyester.
 7. The hail resistantvehicle cover of claim 1, wherein the securing device is a longitudinalflexible strap secured at a first end to the respective and associatedpanel on the surface of one of the left and right curtains and a secondend having a fixing member for securing to a desired point on thevehicle.
 8. The hail resistant vehicle cover of claim 7, wherein theflexible strap is removably secured at the first end to the surface ofthe respective left and right curtain.
 9. The hail resistant vehiclecover of claim 8, wherein the first end is removably secured withhook-and-loop material.
 10. The hail resistant vehicle cover of claim 1,wherein for at least one of the cover panels, the respective right andleft side curtains each extend from the respective right and left edgesa distance of between 12% and 25% of the distance between the right andleft edges.
 11. The hail resistant vehicle cover of claim 1, wherein forat least one of the cover panels, the respective right and left sidecurtains each extend from the respective right and left edges a distanceof between 80% and 100% of the distance between the right and leftedges.
 12. The hail resistant vehicle cover of claim 1, wherein for atleast one of the side panels, the widths of the respective right andleft side curtains are between 70% and 100% of the distance between thefront edge and the rear edge of the cover panel.
 13. The hail resistantvehicle cover of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnected panelsinclude a front panel configured to cover a front surface of thevehicle.